Kukla's Korner Hockey

General manager Darryl Sutter was trying to hammer out extensions for both Iginla and Regehr.
“I think we’re still working on the details of both of them,” Sutter said Sunday. “There’s a lot more to it than just money. We’ll get it worked out.”

Sportsnet.ca has learned that the New York Rangers have signed free agent rival Scott Gomez to a seven-year deal worth over $50 million, as well as free agent Chris Drury
Gomez had 13 goals and 47 assists last season in 72 games with the New Jersey Devils, and won two Stanley Cups with the franchise.
Drury scored 37 goals for the Sabres last season in 77 games.

The New York Rangers have made a major impact in the free agent market, signing forwards Scott Gomez and Chris Drury.
Gomez signed a seven year, $51.5 million contract, while details of Drury’s contract are still unknown.

Update 8:51pm ETSportnet.ca notes that Chris Drury is due to make $35 million over 5 years.

Dallas Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that the club has signed defenseman Sergei Zubov to a one-year contract extension worth $5.35 million in 2008-09. Zubov’s current contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season.
“Sergei is an elite NHL player and we are very pleased he is under contract with us over the next two seasons,” said Armstrong. “He is a valuable piece to our hockey club and has been consistently one of the best in the NHL at his position.”

Holland said that Red Wings’ other three unrestricted free agents—Dominik Hasek, Danny Markov and Todd Bertuzzi—are still possible signees.
The Red Wings and Hasek talked several times Saturday. That the netminder hasn’t come to terms yet is somewhat perplexing to Holland.
“I’m cautiously optimistic ... I think he wants to see what we’ll do and how much cap space we’ll have,” said Holland. “At least that’s the way it appears.”

Scott Gomez is staying in the Tri-State area, but not with the only team he’s played for in his seven-year NHL career.
Gomez, one of the top centers on the free-agent market, signed a seven-year deal with the New York Rangers, ESPN The Magazine’s E.J. Hradek reports.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie is reporting a deal might almost be in place between the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers.
As noted by Spector:

TSN’S Bob McKenzie reports the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers may be close to a trade that would send Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Joni Pitkanen and Geoff Sanderson.

Update 6:47pm ET
TSN now confirming they’re certain that Oilers’ captain Jason Smith has been traded to the Flyers. More info to follow.

Update 7:17pm ET
TSN,

The Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers have made a four-player trade. The Oilers have moved their captain, defencemen Jason Smith and forward Joffrey Lupul for defenceman Joni Pitkanen, forward Geoff Sanderson and a third-round draft pick in 2009.

TSN is speculating in their broadcast that Jason Blake is “very close” to being signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. More soon.

Update 7:36pm ET
TSN,

Looking to add some speed and grit, the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed winger Jason Blake to a 5-year deal worth $20 million.
The Minnesota native appeared in all 82 games last season with the New York Islanders, setting career highs in goals (40) and points (69).

TSN just reporting that Michel Ouellet signed by Tampa Bay Lightning, 2 years. More to come.

Update 6:17pm ET:
From TSN,

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed unrestricted free agent right wing Michel Ouellet to a two-year deal.
Ouellet, 25, appeared in 73 games for Pittsburgh in 2006-07, recording 19 goals, 48 points and 30 penalty minutes in only his second NHL season. The 6-foot, 201-pound native of Rimouski, Quebec ranked fourth on the Penguins with 11 power-play goals and averaged 13:19 in ice time.
“Michel Ouellet is a goal scorer and has been throughout every level of his career,” GM Feaster said.

Hurricanes agreed to a two-year, 1.6 million contract with forward Jeff Hamilton.
Hamilton, who spent last season with the Chicago Blackhawks will earn $800,000 per year, scored 18 goals and had 21 assists in 70 games last season.

Barring something unexpected - always a high possibility in this crazy business - I believe you’ll be hearing about Ryan Smyth becoming a member of the Avalanche soon. A grade A source tells me a deal is close to being done. Stay tuned. And don’t kill the messenger if the deal falls through!

Update 6:23pm ET (by Alanah)
The link above stopped working for some reason. The original story appears to be missing, but Dater references it online here as well:

Still waiting on a Smyth deal. These things can be complicated. These are the top two lines I see for this season, if Smyth brings his mullet to Denver:
Smyth-Sakic-Brunette
Wolski-Stastny-Hejduk

Update 7:12pm ET (Alanah)
Dater is now acknowledging that he did remove his original post deliberately.

Let’s just all sit and wait for the proper authorities to alert us of any big Avalanche deals today, OK? I took a previous blog about a Ryan Smyth deal down not long ago, because I forgot about a parliamentary procedure to post a “news” story like that. That was the reason, not anything else.
There are a lot of other teams that are after the same guys the Avs are after, and it’s no guarantee ANY of them will be coming to our Dusty Old Cowtown yet. So, again, breathe in, breathe out. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Hmmm… this is probably not going to go over well with Avs fans, I’m guessing.